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Next Wednesday 14 December Southern Area Hospice will Illuminate their Light Up A Life Christmas tree at Courtney Hill at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome to the event that remembers loved ones that are no longer with us.
“I’ll always feel you close to me and though you’re far from sight
I’ll search for you among the stars that shine on Christmas night”
This Christmas Southern Area Hospice Services invite you to remember your loved ones by dedicating a light on their very special Christmas Tree to them.
Speaking on behalf of the Hospice CEO Liz Cuddy said “Christmas is just around the corner and this year, more than ever, we are aware of how challenging it is for a lot of people. The lead up to Christmas can be tough and especially so for those who are using our Hospice services, either affected by a palliative illness or dealing with the loss of a loved one. This year we have provided care and support to over 2000 local people with over 440 attending our bereavement services. Our Light Up A Life campaign has come to mean a lot and give comfort to many people, it also helps us raise vital funds and this will enable us to make a real difference to the lives of local people, their families and their friends, not just as Christmas but every day of the year. I must also extend our sincere thanks to our very generous sponsors at Gordon’s Chemist for their support again this year and for helping us make this event so special”.
Many local families who have been supported by the Hospice will dedicate their own lights this Christmas, one family who have shared their story this year is the Rowland family who share their story here.
“Jim, our daddy loved life, he loved his family and friends, a great worker. He was meticulous to a fault everything had to be perfect, and no challenge was too big for him. He was a provider and wasn’t afraid to turn his hand to any job. He worked in many different areas but the one job he really loved was delivery man for a fruit and vegetable company. He was happy driving around meeting deadlines and meeting all his customers, we heard all about his work every single day and his happiness could be felt in our home.
When daddy was 26 years old, he married our mother Orla and started a family. They had us five children Darren, Kyle, and Eve and then in 2005 they were blessed with our twin sisters Katie and Anna, he was so proud of us and put his all into every one of us. He had a fantastic sense of humour and what you saw was what you got, he was extremely honest, fun loving and lived for us all. He was a truly wonderful daddy.
In May 2021 he became unwell and was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer and we learned that it was incurable, however chemotherapy was offered to give daddy more time with us. We were absolutely devastated but we were determined to support him through his battle with this disease. He was tremendous in every way, he made life easy for us caring for him, he rose to every challenge. He wanted to do everything and anything to stay alive and his treatment was working until January 2022. Daddy became very unwell and was transferred to the Hospice in Newry for respite, he was no longer fit for treatment and needed the Hospice to help make him stronger.
The team were amazing, they explained everything and gave daddy the care and attention he needed. Daddy had meaningful chats with them, they talked about us all and his feelings about his exit from this world. He faced it with dignity and always told us “It is what it is”. The chaplains played a big part in daddy’s time in the Hospice as his faith was phenomenal and they really helped him cope, he asked us all as a family “not to blame God, as God did not do this to him”. His strength will stay with us for the rest of our lives. We discussed everything as a family and his honesty and kindness throughout his illness was incredible, he wanted to be sure we would all be ok.
He loved the Hospice gardens and was able to sit and chat with his family. He also got to spend time with his first grandchild “Lilly” who was only a few months old. The sense of peace and calm in the Hospice and the support network they gave us as a family was next to none. Mammy and Daddy got much needed time together alone, discussing all his wishes and their 27 years together and this was so important to both of them.
We stayed together as a family, and we got to be with our daddy in his last few days. He knew we were there, and it was his wish that his family were with him till the end. We all got to say goodbye to him, and to thank him for being a wonderful father. Daddy passed peacefully on the 2nd of April, aged 55 in the care of the wonderful Hospice staff who were there for us, and we will be forever grateful. The Southern Area Hospice will forever hold a special place in our hearts, the nurses, doctors, chaplains, and entire staff are Angels from Heaven.
This will be our first Christmas without “Jim” our daddy and we will be dedicating a light on the Hospice Christmas Tree for him, it’s his birthday just before Christmas too. He was our “Star”, and we know he will continue to shine a big light on us all forever.
The Rowland Family
Glassdrummond
To dedicate a light on the Hospice Christmas tree you can visit the Hospice website on www.southernareahospiceservices.org through their Facebook page, by phoning 028 3026 7711
